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JbbUSTHATED 



CHARLES SCHABELITZ 




The Reihuiuc Press, 
536-53S Pearl St., N. Y. 



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DONIZKTTI MULI.ER 




THH ORIGIN OF WILL O' THE WISP. 




^^^HE GUI) OF l.OVH, Ion-- yt-ars n-o 

When T'inic himself w;is yoiiiiM', 
Set out with eiiiiver, d;irts :ind bow 
Across his shoulders skiiiij,-. 



Twas luoiii ; Aurora's blandest smile 
Beamed on him from above. 

Away he Hew, mile alter mile, 
Unitin.i;- hearts in love. 



111. 

Birds warbled softest melodies ; 

Sweet llowers decked the Mr<"-ind, 
Exhalinii,- odors on the breeze 

To soothe l(jve"s burning' wound. 




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TIIK ORICIN OF WILL ()' THE WLSl 



IV. 

For love pervaded all the air 

As oieamed this hunter's llame ; 
His aim was true ; his silken snare 

O'erllowed with joyous game. 



V. 

Constant success, in young- or old, 
Engenders blind conceit ; 

And gods, like mortals, grown too bold 
Will sometimes know defeat. 



VI. 

Lo ! dawned upon the archer's sight 
Beauty in virgin pride ; 

His keenest arrow sped its tlight, 
It glanced and turned aside. 



■HE ORIGIN OF WII.l, O' TlIK WISP. 



VII. 

Amazement chained the liunter-boy ; 
For ne'er in earthly Ki-'ise 

Had vision sweet— so bri.<i;iit, so coy- 
Dazed this young rover's eyes. 



VIII. 

Her orbs the midnight stars eclipse 
Her teeth outrival snow ; 

Her mocking, coral, dewy lips 

Are arched like Cupid's bow. 



IX. 

The locks through which her shoulders gleam 
Wave there like golden tloss ; 

Her voice is soft as sylvan stream 
Impelled o'er tufts of moss. 



UK OKICIN Ol'' \V1 



X. 

Willi clinrminu- ,uracc ;iiicl visn^c blest 
Lithe lorni uinnntched by ;irt ; 

Al;is! that such a lovely breast 
Contains an icy heart. 



XI. 

The lamp which ^ives the purest li.ui 
Decoys the moth to death : 

That dainty nower" of purest white 
Allures with poison breath. 



Xll. 

Pertly she says: "Thy power 1 scout 
Thou prankish imp of mirth ; 

1 challen.t^^e thee! for much I doubt 
Thy boasted heavenly birth. 



The Andromeiiii ^/(zr/Mff.— Stagger liusli. 



THE ORKIIN OI' WILL O' THE WISI 



XIII. 

Sweet little fool ! s,^o chant love's strain 
To softer hearts than mine ! 

I'll wear no chain of love-sick swain 
Nor in his arms recline. 



XIV. 

For me, thou shalt not choose a mate 
I scorn love's soft appeal ! 

Thy shafts can never penetrate 
My armor strong as steel ! 



XV. 

For others keep thy silly darts 
Who sigh to fall thy prey ! 

Learn, tiny god !— men's loving hearts 
Are toys with which 1 play!" 















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THE ORIGIN OF W'l 



XVI. 

Abashed, the baflled, poutiii.i,' child 
Departs in scornful woe, 

And seeks repose within the wild, 
Where limpid streamlets tlow. 



XVII. 

F-le tinds a rill 'neath lindens tall, — 
Fit place for gods to rest ; 

Refulgent beams across it fall 

From out the gorgeous west. 



XVIII. 

He casts his bow and darts aside ; 

His wings he deftly trims ; 
Then plunges in the purling tide 

To cool his dimpled limbs. 



11 li ORIGIN OF WII 



XIX. 

Unknown to him, the saucy lass 
Discovers his retreat— 

Purlfjins his arms from off the .<j;'rass, 
And llees with nimble feet. 



XX. 

Ah ! fugitive ! as you in ifriKt^ 

Trip blithely o'er the strand, 

You little reck your feet but trace 
Your doom upon the sand. 



XXI. 

A butterlly with splendid win.us, 

Flies swiftly down the .ulade- 

Ideal of all lovely things 

Imploring Cupid's aid. 




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O' THE WISP. 



XXII. 

Yes ! Little One ! 1 ,umnt tliy plea, 
Thou shnit not vainly sue ; 

The nectar-cup that blooms for thee 
Distils enouuh tor two." 



XXllI. 

How gleefully he cleaves the tide ! 

His pretty cheeks aglow, 
Then lliiigs the pearly drops aside, 

And springs to grasp his bow. 



XXIV. 

He looks around in wild despair, 

For bow and darts have fled, 

His voice in anger rends the air 
As if to rouse the dead. 



THE ORUilN OK WILL O' THE WISP. 



XXV. 

His outcries waken deep detiles ; 

His Clan springs through the green. 
Meanwhile, the witciiing damsel smiles 

Behind her leafy screen. 



XXVI. 

Thus, many laugh when thev should weep 
And love, where they should hate, 

Or rest in dreams of blissful sleep 
Beneath the sword of tate. 



XXVII. 

Ho I Comrades all I heed my commands 
Find where our thief has tied I 

My arrows hurled by other hands 
Will consternation spread I 



HE ORIGIN OK WILL O' THE WISP. 



XXVlll. 

The queenly Rose, how would it grow 
If anchored in the lake ? 

Forget-me-nots, how would they blow 
Engrafted on the brake? 



XXIX. 



' Away ! And hunt with main and might ! 

List ye to every sound ! 
And search for steps however light 
Upon the yielding ground ! " 



XXX. 

They scan each leaf and mottled tint 
Where shine and shadows meet, 

And quickly see each tiny dint 

Where tlew this coquette's feet. 



IIK ORICIN Ol' WU.I. ()■ THE WIS!'. l6 



XXXI. 



They follow where those imprints wind 
Along the curvin.ij; shore; 

The tleeing pilferer they find— 
The hot pursuit is o'er. 



XXXll. 

Cupid in scathing tones: "Strange foe! 

Tliinkst tJiou with me to jest? 
Ne'er more for thee shall passions glow 

In any manly breast ! 



XXXIU. 

For thy fell crime, inhuman Sprite ! 

Hear thou my stern decree I 
Go roam the earth a tickle light 

Through all eternity ! 



UR1(;IN CH'- Wll.l, ()■ TIIK WISl'. 17 



XXXIV. 

When stilly ni,uiit, lone, dread, piotouiid. 

Unfurls her sable pall. 
Through ,ur^ive-yards tlit from mound to mound, 

Condemned and shunned by all ! 



XXXV. 

O'er lonely marshes doomed to .uiide 
Till niMht is merged in day, 

Thy lovely face then shalt thou hide 
in tombs with mortal clay ! 



XXXVl. 

O'er dreary moorlands thou shalt dart 
Past wildernesses skirt, 

Seeking in vain some loyal heart. 
Away ! thou wretched llirt ! " 



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THE ORIGIN OF WILL 0' THL WlSl'. 1 9 



XXXVII. 

Relent ! relent ! "' she pleads in woe, 
Behold mine eyes with tears o'ertlow 

Have mercy ! 1 implore ! 
Release me from this endless fate ! 
Give me some task, however .ureat, 

I'll serve thee evermore. 



XXXVlll. 

While toying with thine arms, by chance, 
1 pierced me with thy crnel lance, 

Ah, heal this mad'ning stin.ii; ! " 
'No! thou shalt bear through endless time 
This pain ! The curse of thy deep crime 

To thee must ever cling! 



THK ORIGIN OK WILL O' THE WISP. 20 



XXXIX. 

"The ,<<reatest crime of :ill on earth, 
Is scorning love in heartless mirth, 

For this thou art convicted. 
I will not tyrant thy wild appeal ! 
I will not cause thy wound to heal 

in wanton sport inllicted." 



XL. 

" If I can never know the charms, 
Of beinf( clasped in lovin<< arms, 

Pillowed on Love's dear breast 
If in love-smiles I may not bask, 
Then let me die ! 'tis all I ask — 

To die and be at rest." 



ORIGIN Ol' \VI 



XLI. 

Know! pleadin^^ iiKiid, tliy cliarmiii;< k\cc, 
Effects no change in thy disgrace, 

Thy beauty I defy ! 
For wiien mine arms were (ilched by thee 
That theft meant immortality, 

And thou shalt never die ! " 



XUI. 

' Let me not ever wander o'er 
Dank, dreary grave-yards, marsh and moor, 

Hach night unloved, alone ! 
Nor through each sweet sunshiny day. 
When all the world with joy is gay, 

Hide in dank tombs to moan I 



THE ORIGIN OF WILL O' THE WISP. 22 



XLIU. 

Ah ! let me chant thy wondrous praise, 
Through moon-light nights and sunny days 

With every thankful breath ! 
1 shudder at the ghastly nights, 
I fear the tomb, 1 loath its sights, 

1 dare not dwell with death ! 



XLIV. 

' For thee I'll find the fairest bowers, 
To thee will bring the sweetest tlowers, 

And sing thee to repose ; 
I'll be thy slave for aye, through all. 
Forgive ! forgive me and recall 

Thy curse of endless woes ! 



HE ORIGIN OF WILL O' THE WISl'. 2} 



XLV. 

Oh ! I'll disperse the clouds, the storm, 
BrinK .U'tms to deck thy lovely form 

From heaven's galaxy ! 
For thee, deep caves will 1 explore, 
Through azure depths for thee will soar, 

If thou wilt set me free ! "' 



XLVl. 

Enough ! " the archer-boy replies, 
With anger in his voice and eyes, 
"Behold how gods can jest! 
1 take thy vow ! glib boaster fair. 
Do these slight tasks, I'll grant thy prayer, 
Lo ! this is my behest :— 



F, ORIfllN OF WTI.I, O' TiriC WISP. 24 



XLVII. 



Paint a soii.i;' uiioii the raiiibtjw ; 

Mend a broken bubble ; 
Make the desert overllow, 

The ocean cease its trouble. 



XLVIII. 

Count the countless stars in motion ; 

Hush the wind's deep sighing 
Count the countless pearls of ocean ; 

Stop the clouds from Hying. 



XLIX. 

Chain the lii^ditnint,^ ere it Hashes; 

Still the pealing thunder; 
Stop the avalanche that dashes 

Mounts of ice asunder. 



THE ORIGIN OF WILL 0' THE WISP. 2^ 



L. 



Out of staiiit^ht make an earthquake 
Where the storm-god lowers ; 

Out of fire forge a snowtlake ; 

Wreath the moon with tlowers. 



LI. 

Seize the glory of the morning, 
With it bind thy tresses ; 

Dim the sky the sun's adorning 
With his last caresses. 



LIl. 

Hapless outcast! jilt of earth, 
Doubting my celestial birth! 
When these mandates are obeyed 
ril forgive thee, pleading maid." 




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THK ORU;iN OI' WILL O' THE WTSl'. 27 



Llll. 



Will ()' the Wisp ! of thee we sing, 
On earth, in heaven above ; 

Thou art of all, the only thing 

That tindeth nought to love. 



LIV. 

The oceans, founts and streams would dry 
If Love's sweet spell were o'er ; 

The sun, the stars, the earth would die 
And chaos reign once more. 



LV. 

The heavens paint upon the seas 
Their ev'ry changing hue, 

And sweeter sighs the fragrant breeze 
When falls the evening dew. 



•HE ORIGIN OF WILL O' 



LVI. 



28 



HuKe mounts pe;il forth a deep refrain 
To clouds contending low ; 

Glad offsprin.i,^ of the sun and rain ! 
Love causes thee to m'Ujw. 



LVll. 

L.ove binds us all with rosy bands, 
Love coiuiuers the perverse ! 

Love ,u:uides us with his dimpled hands, 
Love rules the Universe! 






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